How to turn your child’s love for video games into a creative writing project
Is your child obsessed with video games? What if their screen time could become story time?
Before you worry about “too much gaming,” consider this: modern video games teach world-building, character development, plot structure, and creative storytelling, the same skills used in creative writing. In this article, I share how you can turn your child’s love for Minecraft, Roblox, Zelda or other narrative games into a powerful creative writing project. If you’re a parent of a child or teenager who loves gaming, this could completely change how you see their hobby.
Let’s turn players into authors. ✍️
Read more here.
#CreativeWritingForKids #ParentingTips #ScreenTimeBalance #VideoGames #KidsWhoWrite #LiteracyMatters #YoungWriters #TolulopePopoola #WritingCoach #AccomplishPress
The myth of the grind: why your best ideas happen when you’re not writing
This article challenges the popular “hustle culture” mindset in writing and argues that constant grinding is not the key to creative breakthroughs. While consistency and discipline matter, creative work doesn’t function like an assembly line. Forcing high word counts and working endlessly can lead to burnout, flat storytelling, and frustration.
The piece introduces the psychological concept of incubation, the idea that when writers step away from their manuscript, their subconscious continues solving story problems in the background. Many breakthroughs happen during low-effort activities like walking, cooking, or doing housework, and not while staring at a blinking cursor.
Creative Writing for Kids: The hidden skill that strengthens every other school subject
Parent, if you’re only thinking about English grades, you’re thinking too small. Creative writing builds critical thinking, academic strength across subjects, clear communication skills, resilience and confidence in your child.
The child who can structure a story can structure a science report. The child who can analyse a character can analyse a historical event. The child who can revise a draft can tackle a difficult maths concept.
Creative writing isn’t just a hobby. It’s a life skill.
If you want more than “just passing” for your child, read this article.
#CreativeWritingForKids #ConfidentLearners #CriticalThinking #ParentingWithPurpose #KidsWhoWrite
Why your author brand matters more than your book cover
You can have the most stunning book cover in your genre and still hear crickets. Your cover might stop the scroll, but your author brand is what makes someone click “buy,” leave a review, and pre-order your next release without reading the blurb.
In a crowded self-publishing world, talent isn’t enough. Visibility isn’t enough. Even a brilliant manuscript isn’t enough. Readers choose writers they know, trust, and feel connected to. If you’re pouring all your energy into your book and ignoring your brand, you’re building on shaky ground.
The question isn’t, “Is my cover good enough?” It’s: “Am I giving readers a reason to follow me beyond one book?”
If you’re serious about becoming an author and not just publishing a book, it’s time to build your brand on purpose.
Second Book Syndrome: How to write your next book after a successful debut
Your debut novel did well, readers loved it, it got great reviews, maybe even awards. But now you’re staring at a blank page thinking, “What if that was my only good book?”
Welcome to Second Book Syndrome.
Book one, there was no pressure and no expectations. Just you and the story. But with Book two comes deadlines, readers waiting and comparisons to your published first book. You’re not just writing a novel in private anymore, you’re now writing under a spotlight.
That added pressure brings more self-doubt and panic. The imposter syndrome is louder and there’s temptation to “get it perfect” in the first draft.
Second Book Syndrome doesn’t mean you’re a one-hit wonder. It means you care about making sure this book is even better than the first. So just breathe, and take it one step at a time.
Give yourself permission to write badly, permission to separate creativity from pressure, and permission to find a new voice without comparing it to the old one.
Read the rest of the article for more encouragement, tips and inspiration.
Why professional support matters for young authors
If your child loves writing and storytelling but feels stuck, frustrated, or unsure how to improve, working with a children’s writing coach could make all the difference. While parents play an essential role in encouraging creativity, professional writing support helps young writers develop the technical skills, structure, and confidence they need to grow.
In this article, we explore how a children’s writing coach provides personalised feedback, teaches essential storytelling techniques such as character development and plot structure, and helps kids set achievable writing goals. Unlike traditional school writing lessons, creative writing coaching focuses on imagination, voice development, and real-world publishing insight tailored specifically for young writers.
The 30-day countdown: A stress-free marketing plan for your book launch
New article – You’ve written the book. The hard, lonely, soul-stretching part is done. And now it’s almost launch day, and suddenly everyone expects you to become a marketing expert overnight. If you’re staring at your calendar thinking, “I have no idea how to do this without burning out,” take a breath. You’re at the part no one warns you about.
A simple 30-day launch window works because it keeps momentum without overwhelming you. It gives you permission to show up imperfectly, talk about your book like a human, and build real connection instead of noise.
From bedtime stories to book deals: How to support your child’s writing dreams
When a child says they want to play football professionally, parents sign them up for training. When they show talent in music, we get them lessons and a proper instrument. But when they want to write? We hand them a notebook and hope for the best.
Taking your child’s writing ambitions seriously doesn’t mean pushing them into early burnout or turning creativity into a chore. It means recognizing that if they’re passionate about storytelling, they deserve the same support and structure we’d give any other meaningful pursuit.
Why most writing advice ignores real-life constraints
Most writing advice for aspiring authors comes from a good place. But most of it was written by people who don’t have your own life. They don’t know about your demanding full-time job, your hectic business, your kids who need help with homework, or your ageing parent who needs care three evenings a week.
If you’re juggling a high-powered job or running a business and raising kids, your “free time” isn’t really free. You’re managing deadlines, clients, team issues, school runs, homework help, packed lunches, bedtime routines, and that invisible mental load that seems to follow you into every room.
So no, you’re not “lazy” or “undisciplined” if you’re not writing daily. You’re carrying a lot.
But I believe if you have a story inside you, you deserve the support to tell it – regardless of how busy, messy, or complicated your life might be.
Writing when you’re tired, not inspired
Too tired to write? That might be exactly when you should.
Some of the most honest writing I’ve done hasn’t come from inspiration or clarity. It’s come at the end of long days, when my brain was dull, my energy was low, and I didn’t have the strength to overthink.
The quiet truth: when you’re tired, your inner critic is tired too. That voice that nitpicks every sentence loosens its grip. You stop trying to be clever. You stop performing. And something raw, something real and true slips onto the page.
Waiting for perfect conditions is one of the fastest ways to stay stuck. Writing while tired isn’t laziness or lack of discipline. It’s often how work actually gets finished.
So if you’ve got ten quiet minutes tonight and a story that won’t leave you alone, don’t wait to feel inspired. Just write truthfully. That’s often more than enough.